Welsh producers are preparing to attend one of the world’s leading food and drink trade events in Cologne, Germany next week (10-14 October). Anuga 2015 will have over 7000 exhibitors from 100 countries and is recognised as an important platform for the food and drink sector to promote their produce to buyers from around the globe.
Supported by the Welsh Government, 17 Welsh companies will be part of the Food and Drink Wales delegation at the event, all looking to develop links and do business with overseas buyers.
Rebecca Evans, Deputy Minister for Farming and Food, believes that it is important for Welsh food and drink to be seen on this prominent world stage,
“We all know that the quality of Welsh food and drink is up there with the best in the world, but we need to maintain our visibility and showcase our innovative products at key global trade events. Having a presence at events such as Anuga contributes to our ambitious growth targets for the sector which plays an increasingly important role in the Welsh economy. When we visited this event two years ago close to half a million pounds worth of orders were secured and we are looking to build on that success again this year.”
One of the producers looking to make a lasting impression at Anuga is Abersoch based Coconut Kitchen. An award winning producer of Thai-inspired dips and sauces, they also have their own restaurant in North West Wales. They have won numerous Great Taste awards, including the coveted 3 stars for their Thai Green Paste, and will be promoting their new pastes in Anuga this year.
Owner Paul Withington sees trade events as a great opportunity to explore new business avenues, and promote brand new products directly to the global market,
“We began selling our sauces in 2008, with the aim of supplying North Wales with quality, Thai inspired food. We have since expanded into renowned producers of quality Thai sauces and dips, with our products appearing in delis and farm shops across the country. Events such as Anuga are fantastic opportunities for us, and with the support of Food and Drink Wales, they allow us to go from strength to strength as a business. It is a pleasure to promote the Welsh food and drink sector alongside some fantastic Welsh brands, and to prove that the quality of our produce is unrivalled on a world stage, and hopefully find some new business along the way.”
The award winning mid Wales bottled water company, Tŷ Nant Spring Water Ltd, is a well-known global brand, and General Manager, Matteo Sada knows the value of attending trade events;
“Tŷ Nant natural mineral water and TAU spring waters are now established iconic brands around the world, but we still believe there is great value in attending high profile events such as Anuga. We were at SIAL last year in Paris, and buyers from all over the world were present, making it possible to further increase our international business. For companies like Tŷ Nant it is also a chance to meet in person some of our worldwide customers and promote the significant merits of Welsh food and drink, which is constantly growing in strength.”
From its base in Aberystwyth, PhytoQuest proves that Wales is at the top of its game in a field that not many would even realise is a part of the food and drink industry. PhytoQuest uses science to get a better understanding of natural ingredients and compounds, and considers their application in high-margin healthy-living products. Director Dr. Robert Nash is a global leader in the world of PhytoChemistry, and recognises the importance of opportunities like Anuga,
“What is great about being involved in Anuga is that we get to talk directly with potential customers and develop a practical relationship with other like-minded businesses across Europe and the world. It allows us the time to really explain our mission and aim as a business to potential partners, something which is very important when working in a relatively complex field such as ours. Food and Drink Wales has realised the value of trade events for companies like ourselves and I hope we can help in further strengthening the Welsh food and drink sector”.
Anuga is held in Cologne, Germany on 10-14 October, 2015.